Improvement in feeding devices for stamp-canceling machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. MYERS.

FEEDING-DEVICE FOR. STAMP-CANCELING MACHINES. No.175.487. Patented March 28,1876.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. MYERS.

FEEDING-DEVICE FOR STAMP-CANCELING MACHINES. No.175,48-7. Patented. March 28,1876.

ATTEIRNEZY NP-ETERS, FHDTO-IJTHOGRAFHER. WASHXNGTON. Dv C UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE] EREDERIox MYERS, OF NEW YORK, n. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEEDING DEVICES FOR STAMP-CANCELING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,487, dated March 26, 1876; application filed March 20, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK MYERS, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FeedingDevices for Stamp-Canceling Machine, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to stamp -canceling machines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of a feeding apparatus for such machines, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, which forms part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a top view. Fig. 2 is a sectiona1 view. Fig. 3 is a side view. Fig. 4 is an end view.

A represents the feed-box in which the let- .ters are placed to be fed to the stamp-cancel ing machine, the box being'open at the back and top. At the rear side of the box at the top is a cross-shaft, B, having an arm, 0, secured on each end. In the outer ends of these arms is. placed another cross-shaft, 1,

upon which are secured two feed-rollers, D D,

which are covered on the outside with rub-- her D. This rubber is of the kind known to the trade as artists rubber, retaining always a rough surface, and it may be corrugated, as shown, or used without corrugation, and it may, if desired, extend entirely around the rollers, or cover only a part of the surface, as shown.

0n the shaft B is secured a spring-guide, E, which extends forward between the lower edges of the feed-rollers D D, and out a suit able distance beyond the front of the box. The front of the box is at the top provided with an apron, G, pivoted in suitable side plates, and provided on top with a piece .of artists rubber, G. The apron is held by means ofa spring, I), so that the upper edge thereof, as well as of the rubber, will be in contact with the lower face of the springguide E, as shown in the drawing. The low-' er edge of the apron Gr bears against a springplate, H, fastened to the inner side of the box-front to assist in holding up the apron. Through the bottom of the box A passes a vertical rod or shaft, I, on the upper end of which is fastened a false bottom, J. On top of this false bottom is a plate, L, provided with downward-projecting pins 01 surrounded by spiral springs 43, and passing through holes in the false bottom J.

The rod I will, in a working machine, be automatically operated by a weighted lever so adjusted that it shall exert the same pressure whether the false bottom is up or down. The letters to be passed into the stamp-cancehng machine are placed upon the plate L, and held by the weighted lever mentioned against the rubber surfaces of the feed-rollers.

The yielding plate L causes said rollers to take hold of a thick letter as well as a thin one, and even a postal-card, and as the roll-- ers revolve they take one letter at a time and draw itout under the guide E, and over the top edge of the apron, the rubber surface G of said apron holding the letters againstthe guide and conducting it properly into the canceling-n1achine.

It more than one letter should be moved at one time by the feed-rollers the lower one will strike the edge of the apron and be prevented from passing out until the top one has fully passed out.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The apron G, provided with the rubber G, and operated by the spring I), as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The spring-plate H, in combination with the apron G and feed-rollers D D, for the purposes herein set forth. f

3. The movable false bottom J of a feedbox or receptacle, provided with the yielding top plate L, as and for the purposes hereinset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I a-ffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

V FREDERICK MYERS.

Witnesses:

H. B. BROWN, J AS. F. DUHAMEL. 

